Union call to help staff at BHS stores

call to retailers to support staff from British Home Stores (BHS). Pic: Greg Macvean.

Published:12:44Tuesday 16 August 2016

Give the dedicated, hardworking and experienced BHS staff a job.

That’s the message from Shopworkers trade union Usdaw which is urging retailers to provide employment for employees at the store chain as the remaining outlets close.

The move comes in the final week of BHS trading with administrators set to close the remaining stores by this Saturday (August 20).

Dave Gill, Usdaw national officer, said: “This week marks the end of BHS, as the remaining staff go through the difficult and heart breaking task of dismantling stores that many of them have been in for most of their working lives.

“Wherever the blame lies for the demise of this once great British retailer, it certainly is not with the staff who are paying high price for corporate decisions that have led us to where we are today.

“Sir Philip Green needs to honour the two promises he made to BHS staff and pensioners after the company went into administration. Firstly, to offer employment within the Arcadia Group to the blameless, dedicated and loyal staff who suddenly find themselves unemployed. Secondly, to ‘sort’ the pension scheme, we are still waiting to hear the details of what he proposes.

“The 11,000 loyal staff have been totally let down. There remains some very serious questions that need to be answered, by former owners of the business, about how a company with decades of history and experience in retail has now come to this very sorry end.”

He added: “In the meantime we are providing the support, advice and representation our members require at this difficult time.”